Can most 3pt backhoes be converted to a frame mount?

[sixdogs]

Is it possible to buy a factory mounting kit to convert a 3pt backhoe to a frame mount for a specific make and model of tractor? My point is that I see 3pt backhoes sell pretty cheap at auctions but don't trust a 3pt mount.

 

[Shaneard]

Why don't you trust it? A 3 pt. is very strong, there are millions of them in use as I type this. A backhoe on the rear of a tractor has it's limitations anyway, I think it would be fine.

 

[Jstpssng]

Why don't you trust it? A 3 pt. is very strong, there are millions of them in use as I type this. A backhoe on the rear of a tractor has it's limitations anyway, I think it would be fine.

There have been more than one tractor housing broken by the top link on a 3pth backhoe. Even barring that it's harder on the pivot balls and points. I have been looking to do the same as the OP but everybody I talk to just wants to sell me a brand new BH. There are several threads here about making one, but they require more welding and fabrication skills than I have. Messicks has various subframes on their website but you need to know the part #s to look them up. It appears they would run about $2K, as near as I can tell.

 

[Avenger]

Our old tractor, back home on the farm, had a 3pt mount backhoe. I dug miles of trench with it. Never had an issue. To this day, that tractor still uses the 3pt backhoe when needed.

However...

Knowing what I know now, and seeing the destruction that one of those can do to a tractor (first hand), I would convert it to a 4pt solid mount.

If you dont have the technical knowledge or skill to convert the BH yourself, you may want to consider having a welding/fab shop do it. Here is my thinking: you say you can find these backhoes inexpensively, then buy one and take the savings and have a mount made.

That 3pt BH I grew up with, we bought it cheap used, and had some weird mount on it for a pickup (from what I remember). We didn't have the ability or time to convert it to 3pt. So we took into the local steel fab shop and they converted it for us. I dont remember how much it cost (I was 12 at the time!) but it worked. If we knew about, or if it existed, a sub-frame mount, we would have probably gone with that instead.

Recently, I purchased a used BH that came with a ladder style sub-frame mount. That mount would not work for my tractor. The company (Woods) did not make a mount for my tractor with their BH. So I bought the one that came close and modified it to work. I considered hiring a fab shop to do it, and almost did. That is until the mount came in and I found that it was going to be really simple to convert.

You may want to pencil out what it would take to remove the 3pt, get a frame for your tractor, and marry the two. I do not believe anyone makes a 'kit' for this. You are talking custom work.

 

[Shaneard]

There have been more than one tractor housing broken by the top link on a 3pth backhoe. Even barring that it's harder on the pivot balls and points. I have been looking to do the same as the OP but everybody I talk to just wants to sell me a brand new BH. There are several threads here about making one, but they require more welding and fabrication skills than I have. Messicks has various subframes on their website but you need to know the part #s to look them up. It appears they would run about $2K, as near as I can tell.

That's why I said they have limitations, MOST things don't break if not pushed past their limitations.

 

[hawkeye08]

A 3pt backhoe works fine (I have one) when used within its limitations. I am gentle with mine, no reason to slam it around and abuse it. Several members have fabricated subframes (some for 3pt backhoes, some because the subframe is not made for their tractor/backhoe).

 

[John_Mc]

I bought a used Woods 7500 backhoe that was set up for 3 Pt Hitch use. I used it on my tractor for a few months (very carefully, since the manufacturer recommended against 3PH backhoes. The lighter frames on most modern compact tractors just won't stand up to it like the heavier built older tractors would.) I was never satisfied with it. It just never felt solid to me. I talked to my tractor dealer (who was also a Woods dealer). Woods had just come out with their new 4 pt quick hitch subframe. They did not list my model as being covered, but the dealer said my tractor was so close to the next model that was covered that they would modify it to fit. I ordered it, and it turned out they did not need to make any modification. I've been very happy with it. The subframe stays on full time, and the backhoe mounts and unmounts in just a few minutes.

As it turns out, converting from a 3 Pt Hitch mount backhoe was simple on this backhoe: they just unbolted a few parts that fit to the 3 Pt Hitch, and bolted on the parts that mated to the 4 Pt quick hitch on the subframe. No real modifications necessary. (If i had realized it was that easy, I'd have done that part myself.)